Endless band grinding machine



July 7, 1953 D. F. COLLINS ETAL 2,644,278

ENDLESS BAND GRINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVHVTORS DON E COLLINS GEORGE E. APEL RICHARD W. FULLER ATTORNEYS d s s m 2 m t 6 mm a 9m t N w mo o. m w 1 m 2 e qN RA S v UE- l 3 H vm DGR T d w i mm M Illa: C I. B

July 7, 1953 D F COLLINS ETAL ENDLESS BAND GRINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1952 I y 1953 v D. F. COLLINS 'ETAL 2,644,278

ENDLESS BAND GRINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

EXHAUST IN VEN TORS DON F. COLUNS GEORGE E. APEL RICHARD W. FULLER XW WIW ATTORNEYS Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENDLESS BAND GRINDING MACHINE Application September 10, 1952, Serial No. 308,822

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for grinding the plane surfaces of steel bands and the like and more particularly for grinding both the outer and inner faces of endless bands. Relatively Wide and endless stee1 bands, employed in continuous vulcanizing machines, are formed from a plurality of steel sheets or strips welded together at their abutting edges, as shown in Bierer Patent No. 2,083,527. The welds are thereafter ground down flush with the surface of the combined sheets. It has heretofore been quite impossible to grind the longitudinal and transverse welds to a uniform level with the sheets entirely across the band and thus produce a totally uniform surface free from high and low .areas. A primary object of the invention resides in the production of an improved grinding machine that will thus grind either or both faces of endless bands while held under the same conditions of tension employed in usingthe bands and thereby produce true level surfaces adapted in turn to produce vulcanized sheet products of uniform thickness and surface levels throughout the length and breadth thereof.

In accordance with the invention, the band to be ground is fed under predetermined tension over and supported circumferentially at one face on a cylindrical drum While the other face is subjected to grinding treatment by an endless abrasive belt accurately supported in grinding position against said other face and traversed entirely thereacross.

The grinding mechanism includes a cylindrical roll disposed to support one loop end of the abrasive belt in contact with the band longitudinally of the drum and roll during the grinding operation and cooperating means for supporting the belt at its other loop end while driving the roll and belt and traversing the belt along the roll and across the moving band. The production of novel mechanism of this nature and including means for effecting relative adjustment of the roll and drum toward and from each other comprises a further object of the invention.

Endless bands to be ground are supported at their two loop ends on two drums relatively adjustable to place the band under predetermined tension. The mechanism for grinding the outer face of the band includesa'n endless abrasive belt supported at one loop end on a'cylindrical roll rotatably supported at its ends and disposed parallel with and adjacent to the band engaging portion of one of the drums. As the roll and drums are rotated, the abrasive belt, supported on the rill in proper grinding engagement with the band, is traversed along the roll, thus grinding the outer face of the band to a uniform le el 1- tirely thereacross.

Provision is made for grinding the inner face of the band simultaneously with or independently of the grinding of the outer face. The mechanism for performing this function is of a similar nature. A third drum is provided for engaging the outer face of one reach of the band, between the two band supporting drums, and an endless abrasive belt disposed over a cylindrical roll cooperat ing with the third drum is traversed along the roll to grind the inner face of the band in like manner, the third drum and roll being relatively adjustable ,to make proper grinding contact of the belt with the band. The production of novel mechanism of this nature together with means for effectingthe grinding adjustment and safe guarding the. grinding operation comprises a further object of the invention.

A further feature of the invention relates to cantilever frames for supporting the two bandcarrying drums and' including removable drum bearing supporting blocks all of which mechanism cooperates to permit the placing and removing of the endless bands on and from the drums. Also, while the invention is particularly adapted to use in the grinding of endless belts and such use is herein particularly illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may beemp-loyed more broadly to the grinding of various wide bands for the purpose described,

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation,

Fig. 3is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a supporting frame, and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View of a safety feature.

The wide and endless steel band It shown in the drawings is constructed from relatively,

that the bend be of uniform thickness throughout. Such uniformity is adapted not only to produce a product of even gauge and uniform appearance throughout its entire length and width but furthermore is adapaed' to produce much thinner sheet gOOdS since for such goods a small variation in the band thickness has a very great effect on the quality of the goods themselves. An important object of the invention. resides in the production of a machine for thus uniformly grindin a band of this naturelandwe have herein illustrated the invention as productive of such a machine. g

The machine illustrated in the drawings employs two spaced cylindrical drums l6 and I8 for supporting the band l-at its'two loop ends. Each drum is supported on a steel base 20 mounted on a concrete foundation 2|. Each drum is also supported onv a cantilever frame 22 mounted on one side of a base 20 at 24 and extending transversely thereacross above and. in spaced relation from the base and providing a gap 25 therebetween.

The drum I8 is carried on a shaft" 26 rotatably supported in bearings 2'! the lower halves of which comprise brackets 28 bolted to the frame 22. The two brackets normally support the drum in spaced relation above the base 20 and each bracket is reinforced by a removable block 29 disposed between and bolted to the base and bracket beneath the shaft 26, thus firmly supporting the drum during the grinding operation.

The drum I6 is rotatably supported at its ends a in two bearings 30 mounted for horizontal movement in guideways 32 within brackets 34 bolted to and extending outwardly of the adjacent frame 22, and the two frames 22 are rigidly joined together by two heavy steel beams 23 bolted at their ends to the frames. Each bracket is reinforced by a removable block 29 resting on the base 26. Means including a piston rod 35 connected to each bracket 30 is provided for moving the brackets outwardly by hydraulic pressure to place and hold the band It] under predetermined tension. The drum i8 is driven by any suitable power through its shaft 26 (Fig. 3) and suitable scrapers 35 are provided to engage and clean the band engaging face of the drum [8 and the inner and outer faces of the band.

When a band In is to be placed on or removed from the drums, the hydraulic pressure on the bearings 38 is relieved to render the band slack and the blocks 29 are removed at the side of the machine corresponding to the gaps 25. The band can then be freely moved to or from the drums over the corresponding ends of the drums. When a band to be ground is in place on the drums, the band is placed under a tension equal and corresponding to that at which the band is to operate in service and the band is held under such tension during the grinding operation. This method of procedure is of considerable importance since the welding and leveling operations introduce many stresses which tend to change the flatness of the band when subjected to different loads.

The mechanism illustrated for grinding the outer face of the band [0 is as follows. A frame including two spaced uprights 38 is pivoted ad-- jacent to the drum I8 on its base 28 on an axis 40 parallel to the shaft 26. The frame extends outwardly of the axis and drum and its free end is supported on two pistons 42 at opposite sides thereof. The pistons areslidable vertically within cylinders 44 having air supply pipes 46 extending thereinto and adapted to provide air pressure to hold the pistons in their uppermost positions. Two anvils 41 rest respectively on the pistons and are adjustable vertically in the frame by screw threaded means 48 each carryin a worm wheel 50 on its top end. A worm 52 is in mesh with each worm wheel and is operated by a handle 54. Vertical adjustment of the frame on the anvils and about the axis 40 is effected by rotating the handles 54.

A cylindrical roll 56 is rotatably supported at its ends in the frame 38 and disposed parallel with and adjacent to the band engaging portion of the drum l8. An endless abrading belt 58 extends between the drum and roll and is supported on the roll at one loop end. The other loop end of the belt is supported on an idler roller 60 supported on a carriage 62 mounted to ride on and along a track 64 mounted in the frame parallel to the shaft 26. A screw 66 rotatably mounted in the frame is adapted to reciprocate the carriage on and along the track.

The roll 56 is driven by a motor 68 mounted on the frame 38 and operatively connected to the roll through a belt 10. A cushioning belt 'H is supported on the roll 56 beneath the belt 58 and an idler roller 12 is provided on the carriage for supporting the other loop end of the cushioning belt. The idlers 66 and I2 are mounted on arms BI and 13 pivoted to the carriage. The belts 58 and I I are held under predetermined tension by air pressure applied to pistons within cylinders l4 and 16 mounted on the carriage. Piston rods H and T8 are connected to the arms 61 and I3 and tension the belts by forcing the arms and idler rollers in a direction away from the roll 56. The band In is applied to the drums and placed under proper tension in the manner already described, and the band is driven at suitable speed by power means operating through the shaft 26. The roll 56 is accurately ground and balanced and is driven at high speed by the motor 68. Air pressure applied to the cylinders 44 raise the pistons 42 to their uppermost position and the handles 54 are rotatably adjusted to bring the roll 56 and abrasive belt 58 into proper grinding relation to the band. As the grinding proceeds, the screw 66 is rotated to reciprocate the carriage sufficiently to traverse the belt 58 entirely across the band if]. Since the roll 56 (Fig. 1) supports the belt 58 uniformly in grinding contact, the

band will be ground to a uniform level entirely thereacross. The speed of the band It] is so synchronized with the reciprocation of the carriage 62 that the band is also ground to a uniform level along its entire length. In case of emergency the air to the cylinders 44 is released, whereupon the frame 38 will drop and quickly retract the roll 56 and belt 58 from the band and drum.

The mechanism for grinding the inner face of the band I0 is of a, similar nature. A third drum is rotatably supported at its two ends in a frame 8| pivoted to the frame 20 on an axis 82 parallel with the shaft 26. frame BI is supported on pistons 83 and screwthreaded adjusting mechanism 84, like that already described for supporting the frame 38. The drum is positioned beneath the lower reach of the band l0 and is adapted to be raised into circumferential contact therewith. A cylindrical roll 85, like the roll 56, is rotatably mounted at its ends in brackets 86 carried on the beams 23 of the main frame and is driven through a belt 81 from a motor 88 mounted on one of the beams 23.

The free end of the A carriage 90, like the carriage 62, ismounted to slide on and along a track 92 fixed at its ends to brackets 93 carried on the beams 23. An abrasive belt 94 and cushioning belt 95 are carried on idlers on the carriage, in the manner already described relative to the belts 58 and TI, and pass about the roll 85 and between the drum and roll. The track is parallel to the roll and a screw 96 is provided for reciprocating the carriage along the track. While the drum is illustrated as adjustable toward and from the roll, it will be understood that either element, the drum or roll, can be made adjustable relative to the other element and thereby support the abrasive belt in proper grinding contact with the inner face of the band. As the carriage is reciprocated along the track the inner face of the band will be ground to a true level thereacross and therealong in the manner already described in connection with the grinding of the outer face of the band. The circumferential face of the drum I8 and the" inner and outer faces of the band are kept clean of grit and dirt by the scrapers 36.

In Fig. 5 we have illustrated mechanism for automatically releasing the air pressure in the cylinders 44 and thus separating the drum and abrading belt when the grinding load exceeds a predetermined limit, it being understood that this mechanism is applicable in like manner toboth mechanisms for grinding the inner and outer faces of the band. Except for additional subject matter, the reference characters employed in Fig. 5 correspond to those shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 7

Air is conducted from a supply line 98 to the cylinders 44 through a solenoid operated valve Its. A spring IBI normally holds the valve stem in the position of Fig. 5 wherein air is conducted directly through the valve and pipe 46 to the cylinder. The lower end of the valve stem carries a core I53 extending into the body I05 of the solenoid. One line ID! from the solenoid is connected to a line I99 of the motor circuit. The other line III from the solenoid is connected to a switch terminal H3. The normally open bar N5 of the switch is connected by a line II'I to a line H9 of the motor circuit. An overload relay I2I in the motor circuit line II9 cooperates with the switch to close the bar H5 when the grinding load on the motor exceeds the predetermined limit to which the relay is adjusted. Closing of the switch causes energizing of the solenoid I85 which thereupon draws the valve stem downwardly to a position cutting off the air supply line 98 and cutting in the exhaust pipe I23 to the pipe 48.. The piston 33 thereupon drops and withdraws the drum 80 from the roll 85.

Connected to the switch bar H5 is a normally open switch bar I25 adapted in closed position to contact a line I21 extending through arelay I23 to the line lI'l. The bar I25 is connected to the line I89 by a circuit I29 through a normally closed hand switch I3I. Closing of the bar I25 establishes a closed circuit from the lines 109 and H9 through the relay I28, which thereupon serves to hold the bars H5 and I25 closed when the overload on the motor is relieved. The circuit through the relay I28 can be broken by opening the hand switch I3I whereupon the switch I I5-I25 and valve I00 will return to the normal positions shown in Fig. 5. It will be apparent that this mechanism automatically safeguards the grinding operation by relatively separating the drum and grinding roll if and when the gr inding effort exceeds a predetermined limit load.

I Having thus disclosed our invention What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is:

frame and'supporting the adjacent bearing, and

a removable block mounted on the base beneath said adjacent bearing and cooperating with the frame and bracketto support the bearing, the drum being adapted to support one loop end of an endless band having its lower reach passing through the gap between the frame and. base and the removable block permitting removal of the band from the drum.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 plus a like combination of elements disposed remotely therefrom and adapted to support the other loop end of the endless band, means disposed between and supporting the two frames against relative movement longitudinally of the machine, and power operated means for moving the two bearings of one drum away from the other drum to tension the band.

3. A machine for grinding a flat band of steel or the like, comprising a rotary cylindrical drum,

' means for feeding one face of the band under tension over and in circumferential contact with the drum, a'track disposed parallel with the drum outwardly of the band engaging portion thereof, a carriage mounted for reciprocation on the track a'cylindrical roll rotatably supported at its ends and disposed parallel with and adjacent to the band engaging portion of the drum, an endless abrading' belt extending between the drum and roll and supported on the roll at one loop end'thereof, an idler. roller carried by the carriage and supporting the other loop end of the belt remotely from the roll and drum, means for holding the belt under predetermined tension, means-for moving the carriage along the track, ;means for driving the roll and belt, and means for effecting relative adjustment of the .roll and drum toward and from each other.

- 4. The machine defined in claim 3 plus means for effecting a quick and relative separating movement of the roll and drum.

5. The machine defined in claim 4 in which screw threaded means is employed foreffecting the relative adjustment of the roll and drum toward and from each other and fluid pressure means is employed for effecting said separating movement.v

6. The machine defined in claim 3 plus means for automatically effecting a quick and relative separating movement of the roll and. drum when a predetermined overload is placed on the roll and belt driving means.

7. The machine defined in claim 3 plus fluid pressure operated means for maintaining operative band grinding relation between the drum and the roll, said means for driving the roll and belt being an electric motor, and means for automatically effecting a quick and relative separating movement of the roll and drum when a predetermined overload is placed on the motor comprising an electronic control in the motor circuit "and cooperating means for releasing the'fluid pressure in the fluid pressure operated means.

8. The machine defined in claim 3 in which the roll and drum comprise two elements cooperating with the belt at their relatively adjacent peripheries to effect the grinding of the band, a frame carrying one of said elements and pivoted onan axis, parallel with the elements and extending outwardly of the axis laterally of'the other element, said means for effecting a relative adjustment of the roll and drum comprising means for pivotally adjusting the frame on said axis.

9. The machine defined in claim 8 plus meansidler roller carried by the carriage between the roll and the first named idler roller for supporting the other loop end of the'cushioning belt, and means for holding the cushioning belt under predetermined tension.

l2. The machine defined in claim 11 in. which the means for holding the two belts under tension comprises fluid pressure operating mechanism carried by the carriage and operating on the idler rollers in a direction away from the roll.

13. A machine for grinding flat bands, comprising a rotary cylindrical drum adapted to receive and support a band circumferentially on.its periphery, a frame pivoted on an axisadjacentto and parallel with the drum and extending outwardly therefrom away from the drum,v a. track on the frame disposed parallel with the drum a carriage mounted for reciprocation on the track,

a cylindrical roll rotatably supported at its ends in the frame above said axis and disposed parallel with and adjacent to the periphery of the drum, an endless abrading belt extending between the drum and roll and supported on the roll at one loop end thereof, an idler roller carried by the carriage and supporting the other loop end of the belt remotely from the drum, means for holding the belt under predetermined tension, means for moving the carriage along the track, means for rotating the roll, and means remote from said axis for pivoting the frame about the axis.

14. The machine defined in claim 13 in which the last named means includes fluid pressure means for suporting the frame remote from saidaxis, release of fluid pressure therein being cal and rotary drums adapted to support the band adapted to quickly drop the frame about said axis supported on the drums at its ends, means for tensioning. the band on the drums, a track disposed parallel with and between the drums, a carriage mounted for reciprocation on the track, a cylindrical. roll rotatably supported at its ends and disposed parallel with the drums and across and adjacent to; the inner face of said reach, an endless abrading belt extending between the roll and said reach and supported on the roll at one loop end thereof, an idler roller carried by the carriage and. supporting the other loop end of thebelt remotely from the roll, means for holding the beltunder predetermined tension, means for moving the carriage along the track, means for driving the roll and belt, a cylindrical drum disposed. parallel to and in opposed relation to the roll. at the outer face of said reach, and means for effecting relative adjustment of the roll and drum toward and from each other.

17. The machine defined in claim 16 plus a frame. rotatably supporting the last-named drum andpivoted on an. axis parallel with and laterally of the drum, said means for effecting relative adjustment of the roll and drum comprising means for pivoting the frame about said axis.

18. The machine defined in claim 17 plus means for effecting a quick movement of the frame about said axisin a direction moving the drum away from theroll.

19. A machine for grinding endless bands, comprising two spaced rotary drums adapted to support'two-loops of an endless band disposed about the drums, means for tensioning the band on the drums, means including bearings for rotatably supporting the drums at their ends, removable supports cooperating with the bearings at one side of the machine for permitting the placing and removing of bands on and from the drums, a cylindrical rollrotatably supported at its ends and disposed parallel with and adjacent to the band engaging portion of one of the drums, an endlessabrading belt extending between said one drum and the roll and supported on the roll at one loop end, means. for supporting the other loop end of the belt and moving the belt along the roll, means for rotating the roll, and means for adjusting the roll toward and from said one drum- 20. The machine defined in claim 19 in which the abrasive belt is adapted to engage and grind the outer face of an endless band supported on the drums, a cylindrical roll rotatably supported at its ends parallel with the first named roll and disposed adjacent to the inner face of one reach of the band between the drums, an endless abrasive belt extending between the roll and band and supported on the roll at one loop end, means for supporting the other loop end of the belt and moving the belt along the roll, means for rotating the roll, a cylindrical roll disposed across the outer face of said reach in opposed relation to the roll at the inner face, and means for effecting" relative adjustment of the outer and inner face rolls' toward and from each other.

DON F. COLLINS. GEORGE E. APEL. RICHARD W. FULLER.

No references cited. 

